Officials Confirm West Nile Virus in Minn. Mosquitoes

A sample of mosquitoes collected by the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District (MMCD) in Scott County has tested positive for the virus this week.

So far this summer there have been no human cases of the virus reported in Minnesota, and dead birds tested by MMCD have also turned up negative.

“We expect West Nile virus to show up in mosquito samples and birds at this time of year, and while people aren’t necessarily at greater risk yet, we all should take common sense precautions to avoid mosquito bites,” said Kirk Johnson, MMCD vector ecologist.

Officials expect the wet conditions, followed by hot weather will give a boost to mosquito species that spread the disease within the bird population.

MMCD tracks citizens’ reports of dead birds throughout the metro area. They say tracking these reports gives MMCD another tool in the effort to reduce risk of West Nile virus in the metro area.